Improvement in farm-gates



- Paten ted Mar.'4,1879- T AITON Farm-Gate.

"Urrnn STATES PATENT (Dr-'Fitl THOMAS AITON, OF PLEASANT VIEW TOVNSHIP, EMMETT OOUNTY, MICH.

IMPROVEMENT IN FARM-GATES.

(Jal Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 212,781, dated March 4, 1879; application filed December 7, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1,Ti1oMAs AI'roN, of Pleasant View townslip, in thecounty of Ennett and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Farm-Gates; and I do hereby declare that the following; is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. i

In said drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my improved farm gate when closed. Fig. 2 represents the same, in Aperspective, with the sub-gate, or foot-passenger gate, open and lookin g devices withdrawn. Fig. 3 represents the locking devices in detail. Fig. 4 represents the stop-block in detail.

The objects of this invention are, first, to provide convenient means for raising a farmgate, so as to prevent it from being obstructed by snow, and to allow'at will the passage beneath it of hogs, sheep, and other animals secondly, to prevent the main gate from turning on its hinges when the supplementary footpassenger gate is opened; thirdly, to lock and brace the said gate by devices hereinafter described, which can be easily withdrawn from either side of the gate, whereby the same act unlocks the gate as a whole, and also leaves the foot-passen ger gate free to turn independently.

This invention relates to farm-gates provided with supplementary gates for foot-passengers; and it consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement hereinafter set forth and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings, A and B designate gate-posts of ordinary construction, and O designates avertical standard, connected by hinge 'a to post A. D designates the main part of a farm-gate, consisting of horizontal rails d and vertical battens dl; and E designates a supplemental gate, hinged at e e to said main part D. When said supplemental gate only is opened space is left for the passage of foot-passengers only. When said farm-gate, consisting of parts D andE,is opened as a whole, space is left for the passage of farm-wagons and other Vehicles.

One end of said gate is attached to standard or sub-post C by bent guide-plates El, which allow the vertical motion of said gate. F designates a lifting-lever, which is pivoted by one end to standard C, and provided at the other end with a convenient handle, f. Said lever has vertical vibration on its pivot, and its middle part engages, when raised, with any chosen rone of a vertical series of catches, hooks, or

i single stud or hook were used it would be difficult to raise the gate far enough for all purposes, unless said stud or look were set so low down as to be inconvenient of access. By employing a series of said studs or hooks the said gate can readily be raised step by step.

Said lever is prevented from dropping by a pin, H, which is inserted at will in anyone of a vertical series `of holes, h, at the end of part D nearest to supplemcntal gate E.

I designates a stop-block, arranged below said gate, (preferably below the middle of it,) and transversely recessed on top, at i, so as to receive the lower rail, d, of said gate when the latter is in its lowest position. l/Vhen thus in engagement the said stop-block prevents the part D of said gate from turning on its hin ges when the supplenental gateE is opened. lt also prevents the said part D from being opened by accidental pressure.

The gate is locked by means ofthe following devices: J and J' designate two horizontal sliding bars, which work through the outer end of gate E into a vertical recess, l), of gatepost B. The `inner ends of said bars are longitudinally recessed at j jl. In said recesses play pins or bolts kk', connecting, respectively, the upper ends and the lower ends of two oorresponding straps or links, L L, which are arranged one on each side of the gate, so as to be readily grasped by the hand whichever way approached.

M M' designate two short levers, which are v arranged in .an approximately vertical position, and pivoted at the middle to gate E. The lower end of upper lever, M, is pivoted to upper bar, J, and the upper end of said lever M is pivoted to the end of a similar bar, N, which works horizontally in a reverse direction througl the inner end of gateE into a recess, d2, of part D. The upper end of lower lever, M', is pivoted to lower bar, J', and its lower end is pivoted to the end of a bar,N', arranged and working like bar N, above described.

The arrangement of the above parts is such that when the straps or links L L are slipped toward the outer end of the gate the bars J J I are shot so as to lock the gate to post B and at the same time the bars N N' are shot so as to lock together the parts D E. When said straps are moved in the reverse direction all of said bolts are withdrawn, leaving' said supplementary gate free to be opened.

When it is desired to open the entire gate without affecting the rigidity of its parts, an

additional locking device is used. This is preferably a hook and staple, 0 but any equivalent may be substituted therefor. Various changes may also be made in other parts of my gate, and its lifting, locking, and guiding mechanism, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention' Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of post B, supplementary gate E, and main part D of gate, with bars J J' N N', levers M M' and connecting link-bars or straps on each side of the gate, substantially as set fortl.

In testimony that I claim the ,foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS AITON.

Witnesses:

DAVID TILLoTsoN, E. W. GLEAsoN. 

